Here’s Why Rihanna Keeps Curving a Diplo Collaboration

Chris Brown isn’t the only one showing he’s (still) checking for Rihanna. Diplo and Major Lazer have worked with some of the biggest names in music, yet a collaboration with Rihanna is something that the American superproducer can’t see to cross off his bucket list. It’s not for lack of trying either.

In a new interview with GQ Style, Diplo replied to a question about the potential of working with Rihanna by saying “I just want her on a Major Lazer song.” The 38-year-old hitmaker then proceeded to chronicle some of his attempts to get the “Work” singer on a track. Having previously admitted that “Lean On” was offered to Rihanna as well as Nicki Minaj before MØ recorded the final version, Diplo elaborated on the backstory, saying I played her “Lean On.” She was like, I don’t do house music. I face-palmed so hard on that one.”

Recalling another example of Rihanna curving him even harder, Diplo explains, “Another time I had a session with her, and Future was also invited. The Weeknd was there. Metro Boomin was there before anybody knew who he was. I was so contact high. Future played her, like, 700 songs. It was four in the morning. Finally, I was like, ‘Yo, G, I’m leaving unless you let me play her a song.’ So I played her a song. And she was like, ‘This sounds like a reggae song at an airport. [laughs] I was like, I’m gonna go kill myself.‘”

As for the chances Major Lazer finally landing a coveted collaboration with Rihanna, Diplo says “I think before we’re all done, she’ll be on a song of ours. Hopefully. But if not, I don’t really care.”

In other Diplo news, the the DJ/producers real life is the subject of a new Viceland comedy, What Would Diplo Do? According to its star and showrunner James Van Der Beek (Dawson’s Creek), an an experiment that aims to “take the piss out of DJ Culture.”

What Would Diplo Do? airs Thursdays at 10pm ET on Viceland. Diplo serves as an executive producer on the show.

For all the current goings on in Diplo’s world, head over to GQ Styleto read the full interview.

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